FIFA to Help Brazil Police with World Cup Ticket Scandal

by Editor | July 9, 2014 2:50 am

CNN – FIFA says it will help police in Brazil with investigations into allegations that one of its commercial partners has been involved in a ticket scalping scandal.

Brazilian authorities arrested Raymond Whelan, the English chief executive of FIFA partner company MATCH Hospitality, on Monday as part of an inquiry into the illegal sale of tickets for the 2014 World Cup.

“FIFA continues to fully collaborate with the local authorities and will provide any details requested to assist with this ongoing investigation,” football’s world governing body said in a statement.

“FIFA wants to reiterate as mentioned at various occasions its firm stance against any form of violation of the criminal law and the ticketing regulations, and is fully supporting the security authorities in our joint efforts to clamp down on any unauthorized ticket sales.”

Police arrested Whelan at the Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio de Janerio for questioning as part of ‘Operation Jules Rimet’ set up to probe scalping.